Loading Requirements; Loading The Boat With A Capacity Plate - Mercury MerCruiser Product Applications Manual

• All boats that only display the US Coast Guard (USCG) capacity plate must use the
maximum capacity as stated on the USCG capacity plate to perform the exhaust
elbow waterline measurement.
• For boats that do not have a capacity plate, the maximum capacity load is the number
of persons that can sit on designated seating plus cargo excluding cabin space.
• Measurements used for official Mercury MerCruiser audit at the OEM boat builder must
be performed on current production boats. No prototype hulls or light layup hulls will
be considered for official audit purposes.
• Measurements used for official Mercury MerCruiser audit at OEM boat builders must
use the CE certification maximum load for any boat model that will be sold outside of
the United States.

Loading Requirements

1. Fill the fuel tanks, fresh water tanks or holding tanks, ballast tanks, and heater tanks
to simulate fully loaded condition.
2. Weights can be used to simulate these load conditions if desired. Place weights in the
corresponding area for which the load is being replaced. Refer to the following
conversions.
•
•
•
•
3. For the purpose of MerCruiser waterline height measurements:
•
•
4. Add weight for any additional boat options: extra battery, battery charger, tower, arch,
generator, ballast tanks, ballast sacks, television, carpet, anchor, stereo/entertainment
equipment, washer/dryer, safe, etc.
5. If a swim platform is an option, the swim platform must be installed for the waterline
height measurement. Use the following guide to determine the correct swim platform
load:
a.
b.
c.
d.

Loading the Boat with a Capacity Plate

For boats with a capacity plate, use the maximum load for persons and gear as listed on
the capacity plate to determine the number of persons to place onto the boat for exhaust
elbow waterline height measurements.
IMPORTANT: Use 20 inches for average passenger seat width when measuring bench
seating. Round up or down at 0.5 to obtain a whole person. See the examples listed below.
90-863758060 AUGUST 2006
1 U.S. gallon of water = 8.3 lb.
1 liter of water = 1 kg
1 U.S. gallon of gasoline = 6 lb.
1 liter of gasoline = 0.72 kg
One person is equivalent to 74.84 kg (165 lb.)
Cargo per person is equivalent to 11.34 kg (25 lb.)
Boats less than 8.84 m (29 ft.) long, not including boats that are 8.84 m (29 ft.)
long, must add the maximum rated swim platform weight capacity to the swim
platform.
Boats less than 8.84 m (29 ft.) long, not including boats that are 8.84 m (29 ft.)
long that do not have a maximum rated swim platform weight capacity, must
add181.45 Kg (400 lb.) to the swim platform .
Boats 8.84 m (29 ft.) long and greater than 8.84 m (29 ft.) long, must add the
maximum rated swim platform weight capacity to the swim platform.
Boats 8.84 m (29 ft.) long and greater than 8.84 m (29 ft.) long, that do not have
a maximum rated swim platform weight capacity must add 226.80 kg (500 lb.) to
the swim platform.
Exhaust System
Page 6A-17